Potato-digger.



110.735,25@ PATENTBD AUG.4,1903.

A. W. HARVEY.

' PoTATo BIGGER APPLICATION FILED 00T. 11, 1902.

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PATENTED AUG. 4, 1903. A. W. HARVEY.

POTATO BIGGER.

APPLIGATION FILED 001211, 1902.

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N0 MODEL.

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114s Nonms Ferias co, Puo'muwo.. wAsmNnroN. u, c.

50 l potato-digger.

ARTHUR W. HARVEY,

POTATO- Patented August 4, 1903.L v`

EEICE.

OF ALTOONA, IOWA.

DIGG'ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 735,255, dated August4,1903.

Application filed October 11, 1902.

To all whom t may concern:

Be ity known that I, ARTHUR W..HARVEY, acitizen of the United States,residing at Altoona, inthe county of Polk and State of Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Potato-Diggers, of whichthe following `is a specification..-

The objects of myinvention are to provide a simple,'durable, andinexpensive potatodiggerin which l have a shaking-frame that willthoroughly shake the dirt from the potatoes after they have been dug andallow them to be dropped at the rear of the frame.

A further object is to provide a shakingframe which will allow thepotatoes and the potato-tops to pass over the frame, and as the potatoesare severed they will drop to the ground fromthe shaking-frame beforethe potato-tops and allow the potatoes to be covered by the potato,tops, and `thus protect them from the sun after they have been dug andbefore they have been picked up.

A further object is to provide a shakingframe which is designed to beoperated by means of a camwheel mounted on the main shaft of thepotato-digger, which cam-wheel is so arranged as to drive theshaking-frame vdownwardly and away from the main frame of the machine,and the coil-springs, which are attached to the main frame and to theshaking-fraine, will cause the shaking-frame to be drawn upwardly, andthus cause a vertically-shaking frame.

A further object is to provide means attached to the main frame of thepotato-digger whereby the shovel may be easily raised or lowered, sothat the shovel will dig into the ground at any desiredl depth.

The principal object of my invention is to provide avertically-'reciprocating frame for shaking the dirt off the potatoeswhich is of simple and durable construction.

My invention consists in certain details in the construction,arrangement, and combination of the various parts of the device wherebythe objects contemplated areattained, as hereinafter more fully setforth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated inthe accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 shows in perspective the complete Fig. 2 isa side elevation of the reciprocating frame and the cam-wheel Serial No.126,958. (No model.)

which operates the reciprocating frame and the means attached to thereciprocating frame engaging the cam-wheel. In this vie-w the rearportion of the main frame is broken away, and the main frame is also cutin crosssection at its forward end, as is the frontportion of theshovel-supporting device. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of my device,out through the frame behind the point of attachment of the shaking-frame,with the traction-wheels removed; and Fig. 4 is a side elevationof the shovel-supporting device, showing the way in which it is attachedto and supported by the main frame.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, I have used thereference-numeral lO to represent the traction wheels of my digger. Saidtraction-wheels are firmly mounted on the shaft 1l between them. Mountedon the shaft 11 and between the traction-Wheels 10 I have provided amain frame having the sides 12 and 13 therein and having the for- Wardend portion 14 and the rear end portion 15, connecting the sides 12 and13. These side and end portions comprise the main frame of mypotato-digger, and this main frame is mounted, as I have intimated, onthe shaft 11 and between the traction-wheels 10 of the potato-digger.

Attached to the front end 14 of the main frame is the pole 16, to whichthedraft-animals are to be attached. Also attached to the front end 14of the main frame is the seatsupport 17, which support extendsrearwardly and upwardly from the front end 14 and has a seat portion 18at its rear end, said seat portion being very nearly above the shaft 11.Pivotally mounted near the rear end 15 of the frame and to the sides'l2and 13 thereof is the shovel-supporting device, having the body portion19, the rear end portion 20, and the forward end portions 2l. Theforward portions 21 of the two sides of the shovel-supporting devicemeet each other at their forward extremity and at their rearwardextremity are made integral with the body portion 19. The body portions19 of the shovel-sup- IOO 23 in the main frame. Between the forward endsot' the body portions 19 of the shovelsupporting device and near thepoint where the body portions 19 are united to the portions 21 I havemounted the cross-bar 24 to support the rear end of the shovel 25, whichis mounted near its central portion to the forward end of the portions21 and at its rear portion to the cross-bar 24. The shovel 25 is pointedat its forward end, and the sides of it are substantially parallel witheach other. The shovel 25 is slightly narrower than the distance betweenthe body portions 19 of the shovel-supporting device. Mounted in thesides 12 andl- 13 of the main frame and near the forward portionsthereof in such a way 'that portions of it extend outside of the sideslever 26 in such a way that its inner side will notched sector 28.

rest against the exterior vside of the side 12 and the exterior side ofthe notched sector 28 is the` lever 29, said lever having means forholding it in position relative to the It will be clearly seen lthat asthe upper end of the lever 29 is moved forwardlyor rearwardly the lowerends of the "lever 26 will be moved in the opposite direction.

shovel-supporting device, so that when the lever is adjusted the forwardend of the shovel-supporting device will be moved upwardly ordownwardly, and the shovel-supporting device will be swung on itspivotal points of attachment 22 and 23. Between the body portions 19 ofthe shovel-supporting device and at the rear of the shovel 25 I haveprovided a shaking-frame having a rear portion/therein, said rearportion comprising the top 30 and the two sides 31 and 32, said sidesbeing integral with the body portion and extending at right angles tothe body portion 30 from the ends thereof in such a way that theportions 31 and 32 are substantially parallel with each other. Theseportions extend downwardly from the top portion 30. Connecting the lowerends of the sides 31 and 32 of the rear portion of the shaking-frame isthe rod 33, said rod being mounted substantially parallel with the topportion 30. This rear portion of the shaking-frame is attached to themain frame a slight distance behind the main shaft 11 by means of thecontractile coil-springs 34 and 35.

Near the forward end of the frame and behind the shovel 25 is theforward end portion of the shaking-frame, said forward end portion beingconstructed in the same way as The lever 26 and the supporting-rods f27, which support the forward end of the the rear portion and having itsvparts numbered corresponding to the parts on the rear end of theshaking-frame, the only difference being that the side portions31 and 32in the front portion of the shaking-frame are shorter than the portions31 and 32 of the rear portion of the shaking-frame, so the rod 33connecting the lower ends of the sides of the rear end of theshaking-frame is lower than the rod 33 connecting the lower end of thesides 31 and 33 of the front portion of the shakingframe for purposeshereinafter made clear. The front portion of the shaking-frame isattached to the sides 12 and 13 of the main frame by means of thecontractile springs 34 and 35 in the same way as the rear portion of theshaking-frame is supported by means of the contractile springs 34 and35. Thus the forward end of the shaking-frame has two springs attachedto it and to the main frame, and the rear end of the shaking-frame hastwo springs attached to it and to the main frame. Mounted in the rod 33of the forward end portion of the frame and extending rearwardly anddownwardly through the rods 33 at the lower end of the rear portion ofthe shaking-frame is a series of parallel -rods 36, each rod of saidseries of rods 36 being also attached to the rod 33 at the lower end ofthe sides 31 and 32 of the rear portion of the shaking-frame. Firmlymounted on the central portion of the shaft 1l is a cam-wheel 37, saidcam-wheel having a series of projections on its exterior and saidprojections lbeing eq uidistant from each other throughout the entirecircumference of the cam-wheel, said projections extending outwardlyfrom the body portion of the wheel. Pivot-ally attached to the front end14 of the main frame and extending rearwardly therefrom until its rearend engages the cam-wheel is the rod 38, said rod 38 being pivotallyattached to the top 30 of the front end portion ot'A the shaking-frameby means of the connecting-link 39. This rod 38 is so arranged that asthe cam-wheel is rotated the rear end of the rod 38 will be forceddownwardly, and consequently the forward end of the shakingframe will becorrespondingly forced downwardly, and the resiliency of thecoil-springs 35 will draw the forward end of the frame upwardly untilthe rear end of the rod 38 engages the next projection of the cam-wheel37, thus causing the forward end of the shaking-frame to bereciprocated.

Firmly attached to the top portion 30 of the rear end of theshaking-frame is the upright 40, said upright being attached to thecentral portion of the part 30 and extending substantially at rightangles to it. Pivotally mounted at the top portion of the upright 40 isthe rod 41, said rod extending forwardly from its point of attachmentuntil it is in engagement with the cam-wheel 37, mount-ed between thesides 12 and 13 of the main frame and substantially parallel with theends 14 and 15 of said frame and extending through the rod 41 in such away as to make the rod IIO `il pivotally mounted on it.

" rear end of the shaking-frame downwardly,

and then the springs which are attachedto the rear end of theshaking-frame will cause this shaking-frame to be drawn upwardly untilthe rod 4:1 engages the Anext succeeding projection on the cam-wheel 37,and by these means the rear end of the shaking-frame will bereciprocated. Thus by the means above described the entire shaking-framewill be reciprocated, relative to the main frame, and

the potatoes, which are designed to pass over the series of rods 36 inthe shaking-frame, will be forced rearwardly and the dirt on the.potatoes will be shaken off by the vertical tor adjusts theforward endof the shovel by means of the lever 29 and holds the shovel and itssupporting devicein any desirable position for digging, and my digger isready for use. As the draft-animals draw the digger forwardly the shovelwill cause the potatoes to be dug, and the forward movement of it causesthe potatoes to be forced rearwardly on the shovel and onto the seriesof rods 36, and as the shaking-frame in which the rods 36 are mounted isconstantly reciprocating vertically relative to the main frame thepotatoes will be thoroughly shaken upon coming in contact with the rods36. On account of the rods 36 sloping rearwardly from their point ofattachment at the forward end of the shaking-frame the potatoes on therods will slide rearwardly and be dropped from the rear ends of theshaking-frame on the ground.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States therefor, is-

l. In a potato-digger, the combination with a main frame, of a shovelpivotally attached lto the main frame, a lshaking-frame at the rear ofthe shovel and mounted beneath the main frame, springs attached to themain frame and to the shaking-frame for supporting the shaking-frame,means for forcing the shaking-frame downwardly to cause verticalreciprocation of the shaking-frame relative to the main frame.

2. In apotato-digger, a main frame, a shaking-frame attached by springsto the main frame, means mounted between the sides of the main frame forforcing the shakingframe downwardly against the resistance of thesprings, for the purposes stated.

3. In a potato-digger, a main frame,a shovel pivotally attached to themain frame and eX- tending in front of it, a shaking-frame lbeneath themain frame,'springs attached tothe main frame and to the shaking-frame,traction-wheels outside of the main frame, a shaft connecting saidtraction-wheels and extending through the sides of the main frame, acam-wheel mounted on said shaft, means attached to the main and to theshaking frame so arranged that as the cam-wheel revolves portions ofsaid means will be engaged and cause the shaking-frame to be moveddownwardly, for the purposes stated.

4. In a potato-digger, a main frame, a shaking-frame, springs supportingthe shakingframe beneath the main frame, a shaft eX- tending across themain frame, a cam-wheel on said shaft, a rod pivotally attached to thefront of the main frame and to the shakingframe, the rear endof said rodengaging said cam-wheel, a second rod mounted between the sides of themain frame and at the rear of said shaft, a third rod pivotally mountedon said second rod and pivotally mounted at one end to the shaking-frameand engaging the cam-wheel at its other end, for the purposes stated.

5. In a potato-digger, a main frame, ashaking-frame, springs supportingthe shakingframe beneath the main frame, a shaft extending across themain frame, a cam-wheel on said shaft, a rod pivotally attached to thefront of the main frame and to the shakingframe, the rear end of saidrod engaging said cam-wheel, a second rod mounted between the sides ofthe main frame and at the rear of said shaft, a third rod pivotallymounted on said second rod and pivotally mounted at one end of theshaking-frame and engaging the cam-Wheel at its other end, a shovelpivotally attached to the main frame in front of the shaking-frame, forthe purposes stated.

` ARTHUR W. HARVEY.

Witnesses:

J. RALPH ORWIG, W. R. LANE.

IOC

